Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi merchandise imports fell 1.8% year-on-year, or SAR 2.31 billion, in the first quarter of 2018.
The value of kingdom’s imports amounted to SAR 123.41 billion during Q1-18, down from SAR 125.72 billion in Q1-17, according to General Authority for Statistics’ (GASTAT) data.
Saudi merchandise imports included machinery, mechanical appliances, and electrical equipment at a combined value of SAR 27.29 billion during Q1-18, down from SAR 30.31 billion in the year-ago period.
Consuming imports acquired 42.4% of imports with SAR 52.36 billion, followed by intermediate imports that made up 36.9% with SAR 45.53 billion, capital imports with SAR 25.52 billion, acquiring 20.7%.
Asian countries, excluding non-Arab and non-Islamic nations, were the top exporters to Saudi at a value of SAR 40.7 billion during Q1-18, compared to SAR 38.41 billion, with a 6% growth.
Quarter-on-quarter, the GCC nation's merchandise imports decreased by SAR 4.75 billion or 3.7%, compared to Q4-17.
